Records fall as Hobart tops Union in 2OT

GENEVA, N.Y.–The Hobart football team survived a wild
shootout with Liberty League rival Union at Boswell Field today.
The Statesmen broke or tied seven game records in the 41-35 double
overtime win.

In his first collegiate start, sophomore quarterback Nick Strang
(John Jay/Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) was 19-of-29 for 405 yards and
tied the Hobart record with five touchdowns passes. He also rushed
for 93 yards and another touchdown. His 498 yards of total offense
are a single game record as is his 12.4 yards per play average.
Strang's passing yards total on the single game
list.

Strang's top target was sophomore wide receiver Junior
Woodward (Whitesboro/Marcy, N.Y.), who caught five passes for 182
yards, including touchdown receptions of 61 yards and 70 yards. His
total ranks third on the single game receiving yards list.

The Dutchmen defense was led by Anthony Cassese's 11
tackles, while Alex Macchio and JP Sticco each logged two
interceptions. Sticco also recovered a fumble and ran it back 49
yards for a touchdown.

After a scoreless first quarter, Strang found Woodard for a
61-yard touchdown with 12:31 left in the first half to give the
Statesmen a 7-0 lead. He followed that with a 20-yard touchdown to
junior wide receiver Garth Muratori (Briarcliff/Briarcliff Manor,
N.Y.), who made an exceptional catch in the end zone for a two TD
lead with 7:23 left in the half.

Union responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Connolly to
Coney that cut the Hobart (3-2, 1-1) lead to 14-7 at the 4:25
mark.

Strang answered with a 42-yard completion to junior tight end
Greg Clifford (Rivers School/Holliston, Mass.) on a seam route.
Clifford looked up to see a clear path to the end zone and a 21-7
advantage.

Coney found the end zone again on a 5 yard run for the only
touchdown of the third quarter. Union followed that with a 14-yard
Connolly to Gallo touchdown. The two-point conversion, a Coney run,
gave Union its first lead of the game, 28-21, with 12:47 left in
regulation.

Strang found Woodard for another long touchdown, this time 70
yards, to tie the game. Woodard stepped out of one tackle near the
20-yard line and out ran another defender to the pylon for the
score.

Strang led the Statesmen on the final scoring drive of
regulation, moving the team 59 yards in five plays, capped by his
fifth touchdown pass, this one to Muratori from 10-yards away, to
make it a 35-34 game. Strang hit Muratori on a two-point conversion
pass that would have given Hobart the lead, but the Statesmen were
called for an illegal formation. After the walk-off, Hobart kicked
the PAT to tie the game.

Union got close enough for a 55-yard field goal attempt as time
expired, but the try was well short, sending the game into
overtime.

The first overtime was scoreless, with Hobart throwing an
interception and Union missing a 37-yard field goal.

In the second OT, Union had the ball first and fumbled at the
13. Junior cornerback Drake Woodard (Whitesboro/Marcy, N.Y.)
pounced on the loose ball, setting the stage for Hobart's
winning drive.

Strang runs of 4 and 14 yards took Hobart down to the 7-yard
line. Webb rushed for no gain on first down, but Strang won the
game with a quarterback draw that covered 7 yards for the 41-35
victory.

Following an off week, the Statesmen will return to action on
Saturday, Oct. 23 at Merchant Marine. Union will return to
Schenectady to host St. Lawrence on Saturday, Oct. 16.